Castagna Imperial Landaulet Concept

According to designer Gioacchino Acampora, this imposing concept was inspired by some of the Isotta Fraschinis of the '20s and '30s.

TONY SWAN

Mar 1, 2006

The Isotta Fraschini link has some historic resonance. After all, Castagna was a principal coach-building source for these grand motorcars in the '20s and '30s. Tracing its origins to the carriage trade of the 1840s, the Milan-based company closed its doors in 1954, and the name was revived by Acampora in 1995. The Imperial, according to Acampora, is a work in progress, and will eventually become the property of an unspecified individual who commissioned the one-off super luxury sedan. Details were equally unspecified, other than the car's imposing size — over 20 feet long — and its power: over 800 hp, according to Acampora, from a twin-supercharged 4.5-liter V-8 of unknown origin. Pricing info was also unknown, but if you have to ask...